My overall impressions after tasting a dozen LBV Ports is based on the 2015 vintage quality as well as the common thread that ties these Ports all together. The commonality of course is that 2015 is right up there beside the quality of 2016 and close to 2017, the latter of which I believe will pan out as the best of the three overall, regardless of scores in their infancy.

The hallmarks of these fabulous young LBV’s is their sheer approachability. Only one or two had tannins so astringent and grippy at this point, but even those two on day three of their evaluations showed the tannins softened rather than becoming even more assertive. The aromatic silhouettes across the board were delightful and sophisticated for the most part. But noticing the massively fruited and texturally sublime nature of these 2015’s, as well as their impeccable balance and evenhanded structures driven by the crisp vivacity and focus of the acidity, is what made both Vintage and LBV’s so remarkable.

In the current pantheon since 2000, I would put the 2015 LBV’s in the same discussion as the gorgeous nature of the 2003’s and 2011’s; while a step up from the 2005’s which I also really liked. Honestly, the somewhat narrow range of LBV pricing puts that dynamic aside for me and I’ll just say that I have already sought out a case of my favorite of the group of these LBVs.

IF I had been in Porto, where I typically do 95% of these blind horizontal evaluations, I am sure it would have been easier to gather several dozen to form a more comprehensive overview of the 2015’s. Nonetheless, I was really able to focus on a smaller grouping done with one other individual who greatly appreciates learning how to judge these type of infants.

Lastly, one can never praise enough to have these LBV’s, essentially “declassified Vintage Ports” that deliver 75% or even possibly 80% of the pleasure of their bigger siblings, for 1/3 of the cost. I’d say that represents a great deal and any Port lover who turns there nose up to LBV Port, is not someone I’d welcome to my home to drink Port with. That kind of wine snobbery, is not what I am about, regardless of what people can afford.

We should welcome these “cellar defenders” and take advantage of learning about LBV’s which can be cellared for a couple of decades and enjoyed then vs. the filtered ones that need to be consumed inside of a decade or two for the most part. During Port Harvest Tours, I always try to present one house where we have a group of LBV’s vs. their VP’s from the same vintage, which I found is the greatest way to truly understand the unique character that each category presents. I have had 30+ year old LBV’s on occasion and they can deliver outstanding quality and interest for me and I wish I had some left from my earliest years of consuming them. I am now just down to my remaining 1994 Noval LBV’s and 1999 Smith Woodhouse LBV’s … occasionally trading friends an old Vintage Port, for their old LBVs. They are not all that different when you get an exceptional one!